Molecular Human Reproduction Vol. 1, NUMBER 2 pp. 63-68, 1995
© European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology 1995
research-article |
Immunohistochemical evidence of p53 protein in human placenta and choriocarcinoma cell lines
Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Graz Harrachgasse 21/VII, A-8010 Graz 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Auenbruggerplatz 14, A-8036 Graz, Austria
To whom correspondence should be addressed at: 1To whom correspondence should be addressed
We investigated the expression of the tumour-suppressor and cell cycle control protein p53 in human first trimester and term placenta, three choriocarcinoma cell lines (Jeg-3, JAR, BeWo) and human choriocarcinoma. Using monoclonal antibodies against p53 (DO-7, Ab-6, DO-1, PAb 1801), paraffin-embedded sections of first trimester and full-term placentae, human choriocarcinoma and Jeg-3, JAR and BeWo, as well as cytospins, were evaluated immunohistochemically. In addition, Western blots were carried out with the same antibodies on choriocarcinoma cell lines. In placentae, a small number of villous and extravillous cytotrophoblast cells, as well as very few syncytiotrophoblast cells, stained intensively. Also, p53 was visualized in some nuclei of the placental basal plate, whereas stroma and endothelium were negative for p53. Jeg-3, JAR and BeWo also showed a positive nuclear reaction with all applied antibodies. In paraffin-embedded sections of human choriocarcinoma, staining was confined to the nuclei of malignant cells. The results suggest that p53 is overexpressed not only in malignant tumour cells but in certain trophoblast cell populations of the human placenta as well.
choriocarcinoma cells/human placenta/immunohistochemistry/p53